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(09/01/06 4:25am)
Each year the IU men's soccer team invites some of the best teams college soccer has to offer to Bloomington for the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic.\nThis year's field lives up to the Classic's reputation with three ranked teams taking the pitch this weekend at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nThe University of Connecticut, Notre Dame and St. Louis University will help prepare the cream and crimson for their traditionally difficult schedule.\nIU coach Mike Freitag said he loves hosting the Classic each year and the experience his team gets in the early season by taking on great competition.\n"We call it the Classic for one reason -- because it is a classic," he said. "We always have good teams. This year us and St. Louis get to take on Notre Dame and Connecticut, which will be a good test for us."\nThe marquee matchup of the weekend is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Armstrong Stadium, when the No. 12 Hoosiers take on the No. 2 UConn Huskies.\nThe National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings have not come out since the pre-season, so they do not reflect the Hoosiers' two wins or the Huskies' loss from last weekend.\nAfter a disappointing start to its season, UConn will look to get back on track against the cream and crimson, Freitag said.\n"UConn is going to be a very talented team," Freitag said. "They are going to be hungry after they didn't have the weekend they wanted last weekend. Like a wounded lion, they are going to come out pushing for a victory, so we will have to be our best."\nThe Hoosiers' second game of the weekend is against in-state rival No. 15 Notre Dame. The last time IU and Notre Dame faced off, the Irish ended hopes of an eighth national championship for the Hoosiers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.\nCoach Freitag said he believes the defeat is still with his players as this season begins.\n"I don't think they have talked about it, but I think it's on their minds," he said. "They would like to get revenge for ending our season so abruptly. This team right now has the attitude, and they learned from the past that we are taking one game at a time."\nJunior goalkeeper Chris Munroe said the team is being cautious about focusing the game around getting payback for last season.\n"We have to be careful," Munroe said. "While we are aware Notre Dame ended our season, we have a lot of new faces on our team. We just need to focus and beat this year's Notre Dame team."\nThe Hoosier attack will be led by sophomore forward Brian Ackley. Ackley was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News National Player of the Week for his two goals last weekend against Creighton University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.\nAckley is one of many fresh faces playing important roles for the Hoosiers. Freitag said the upperclassmen have aided the transition of the newcomers by sharing their experience.\n"We got a lot of guys who have been around long enough to know how to do things the right way," Freitag said. "They are trying to pass that on to the others. We have two good captains in (senior midfielder) Josh Tudela and (senior defender) Julian Dieterle, who have won a couple of championships and know what it's all about."\nTudela said he likes the way the team is coming together and said the new additions to the line-up have been impressive so far this season.\n"All the upperclassmen show the younger guys about what wearing the IU uniform is all about," he said. "As a team we compare to the best teams I've been on here at IU. We need to continue to play together, and we will be successful."\nThe team is excited to get in front of "the best fans in America" this weekend. Last season, IU was second in NCAA soccer in average attendance with more than 3,100 fans per contest. The team hopes for a large crowd this weekend, especially since students can now get into the game for free.\nFor the players on the pitch, the large crowd is one of the benefits of being a member of the IU tradition. Playing in front of the self-proclaimed "Superfans" for the first time is an eye-opening experience, Munroe said.\n"Until you experience it, you can't do it justice," he said. "It should be a good weekend for us old-timers, but especially for the new guys"
(08/28/06 3:24am)
Heading into the season, sophomore Brian Ackley had never played forward.\nBut it was a good thing for the Hoosiers that IU coach Mike Freitag moved the former midfielder to forward this year.\nAckley scored two goals and tallied one assist as the No. 12 Hoosiers opened the season with two victories at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament. IU defeated No. 8 Creighton University Friday night and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Sunday.\nAckley's performance this weekend comes on the heels of his two goals in the two preseason games for the Hoosiers. With the departure of six players from last year's team, Ackley knew he would have the opportunity for more playing time but never thought he would have this big of an impact so early in the season.\n"No, not really," Ackley said. "I've been in the right place at the right time and have been able to score."\nFreitag said he was pleased with the way Ackley stepped up this weekend.\n"I've always felt highly of Brian as a player," Freitag said. "He has never played forward, but he has been excellent up there for us."\nMinutes before a possible overtime against UAB, senior midfielder John Michael Hayden took the Hoosier's fifth corner kick of the game. Ackley headed the cross to senior defender Julian Dieterle, who sealed the game when he headed the ball past UAB goalkeeper Jeremy Drake.\nThe cream and crimson's first goal came just 26 seconds into the match when Ackley headed in a cross from freshman Darren Yeagle.\nThe strike was the second fastest goal in IU soccer history. The record came in 1982 when Mike Hylla scored in just 16 seconds against St. Louis University.\nUAB tied the contest in the 41st minute when sophomore Logan Alexander redirected a cross past sophomore goalkeeper Chay Cain. The Blazers had two viable scoring chances in the second half, but were unable to get past Cain.\nThe Hoosiers dominated offensively, out-shooting UAB 19-5 and holding a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks. For the weekend, IU had a 41-11 advantage on shots and 21-3 advantage on corner kicks.\nFriday night, the Hoosiers and the Bluejays battled through 110 minutes of scoreless play before Ackley headed in a cross from Hayden to give IU the 1-0 lead. Ackley's first career regular season goal was all the Hoosiers needed for the victory.\n"We had a lot of corners, and we knew we would get one of them," Ackley said. "I was able to work my man and get it past the goalie."\nIU used two different goalkeepers this weekend. Last season's starter, junior Chris Munroe played Friday night, while Cain was in between the pipes Sunday. Freitag said he was happy with the play from both keepers and with the defense in the opening games of the season.\n"I'm happy with the way we have defended as a team," Freitag said. "We didn't give up many opportunities, and if our goalies keep playing solid, it will be tough to beat us."\nWith No. 2 University of Connecticut and No. 15 University of Notre Dame next on the schedule in the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic, the Hoosiers are pleased with how they are playing to begin the 2006 season.\n"The makeup of this team lends itself to be successful," Dieterle said. "We always look forward to the classic, and it will be fun to see the eyes of the freshmen when they take the field this weekend"
(08/28/06 12:09am)
The IU men's soccer team opened the season on a successful note with two victories at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament. The Hoosiers defeated No. 8 Creighton University 1-0 Friday night and the University of Alabama at Birmingham 2-1 Sunday.\nSophomore Brian Ackley had a breakout weekend, scoring two goals and posting an assist in the team's two matches.\nMinutes before a possible overtime Sunday afternoon, senior midfielder John Michael Hayden took the Hoosiers' fifth corner kick of the game. Ackley headed the cross to senior defender Julian Dieterle, who sealed the game when he headed the ball past UAB goalkeeper Jeremy Drake.\nThe cream and crimson's first goal came just 26 seconds into the match when Ackley headed in a cross from freshman Darren Yeagle.\nThe strike was the second fastest goal in IU soccer history. The record came in 1982 when Mike Hylla scored just 16 seconds into a match against St. Louis University.\nUAB tied the contest in the 41st minute when sophomore Logan Alexander redirected a cross past sophomore goalkeeper Chay Cain. The Blazers had two viable scoring chances in the second half, but were unable to get past Cain.\nThe Hoosiers dominated offensively, out-shooting UAB 19-5 and holding a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks. For the weekend, IU had a 41-11 advantage on shots and 21-3 advantage on corner kicks.\nIn the first game of the weekend, Ackley scored the only goal of the game in overtime to give the No. 12 Hoosiers victory.
(08/23/06 3:48am)
FORT WAYNE -- Although Friday night's game against No. 1 University of Maryland did not count for the record books, only one outcome was acceptable for the IU men's soccer team when it took the pitch against the defending national champions.\n"A victory," IU coach Mike Freitag said. "It's to prepare us for the season. It's nice to get the victory, and it's nice to see improvement. I think we got both of those today."\nSophomore forward Brian Ackley netted the only goal of the match in the 75th minute to give the No. 12 Hoosiers a 1-0 victory in their second game of the IU-Purdue University Fort Wayne Soccer Showcase.\nFreshman forward Darren Yeagle set up the Ackley goal with a run up the sideline on a pass from senior John Michael Hayden.\n"I had a good through ball, and I knew the defender was big but not that fast, so I just beat him on speed," Yeagle said. "I saw Ackley on the far post, so I just slid it through, and we scored."\nIt was Ackley's second game-winning goal in as many games since moving from a midfielder last season to a forward this year. The Cary, N.C., native tallied the only goal in the cream and crimson's 1-0 victory against the University of Illinois-Chicago in the first game of the Showcase.\n"Brian Ackley has come in this year and played very, very well," Freitag said. "He gives us a calming effect and has scored two goals in two games, so I hope he keeps it up."\nDefense has always been the focus of the IU soccer team, and this year's defense is shaping up to be as successful as last season's after two shutouts in the first two exhibition games, junior goalie Chris Munroe said. Last season the Hoosiers led the Big Ten with the fewest number of goals allowed, averaging only .73 goals per game.\n"They are doing a great job," Munroe said of freshmen defenders Ofori Sarkodie and Kevin Alston. "And, of course, Greg Stevning and Julian Dieterle are solid as a rock back there, just like they've always been."\nLosing six starters from last year's team required Freitag to plug new faces into the Hoosier lineup. Seven players logged significant playing time after not playing last season or being a part of the Hoosiers' heralded recruiting class this season. \nSarkodie, who was the 2005 NSCAA/Adidas National Youth Player of the Year, said the collegiate game is different from the club and international levels the incoming freshmen have been used to playing.\n"I believe on the collegiate level the physical level is much higher," he said. "On the international level, everyone is quite accomplished in their technical ability and their awareness of the game. In the collegiate level, their physical ability is higher. They get more games in a short amount of time, and I think that helps."\nFreitag is confident about the young players stepping up and making contributions for the seven-time national champions, saying he wouldn't recruit the players if they couldn't play.\nAs the regular season begins this weekend at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend, the younger players will certainly have a chance to show why Freitag and the Hoosier coaching staff recruited them -- a chance Yeagle is excited about.\n"I feel good about stepping up," he said. "We are a young team, but I feel that we are going to be good"
(05/15/06 12:21am)
The IU Student Foundation has ruled to bar alumni from coaching in the pit on race day of the Little 500.\nIU Foundation President and CEO Curt Simic recently sent a letter to alumni coaches notifying them of the decision.\n"One concern I have revolves around the expanding number of non-student coaches we see taking 'full control' of various teams," Simic wrote. "Of course, (in specific cases), that has been a good thing. In others, it has been less so."\nSome current coaches want to know if the ruling is a punishment for a problem that might not currently exist.\n"If they sent this out to every coach, then which coaches are taking full control?" Kappa Alpha Theta coach Tom Schwoegler said. "Courtney Bishop did, but he's not around anymore, so what's the problem?"\nMany believe Bishop, who received a lifetime ban in December 2005 for allegedly giving riders scholarships to participate in the race, is the cause of this rule change.\n"They tried to solve one specific problem -- Courtney Bishop," Schwoegler said. "When did this become a problem? Why not last year (for the rule change)? Courtney Bishop is going to sue them until he gets the same rights as all other coaches."\nUnder the new coaching format, one or two credit hour classes will be offered through the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation to "provide theory as well as develop a Little 500-specific knowledge base." These new coaches would be helped along by former coaches, riders and other people who have been associated with the Little 500.\nIUSF Director Rob Rhamy and Little 500 Race Coordinator Lucas Calhoun said they were approached by two alumni coaches with the thought of eliminating alumni coaches. To fill the void, undergraduate IU students would coach Little 500 teams.\n"The main reason why is that they feel that some coaches are coming to it for the wrong reason," Calhoun said. "They're not in it to help the student. They're in it for their own ego."\nCutters coach Jim Kirkham, one of the two coaches who presented the idea to IUSF, said the move would focus the race more on the riders.\n"I think it's a rider's race and all the attention should be on the guys that pedal the bikes," Kirkham said. "No one other than that should get the spotlight."\nRhamy said replacing alumni coaches with IU students would provide undergraduate students valuable leadership opportunities.\nCoaches create practice schedules and build strategy before the race, and they advise riders and dictate the schedule of riders during the race. If alumni coaches are eliminated, they would not be able to coach teams during the race from the pit area, forcing them to stand behind a fence that separates the track from the grandstand.\nLittle 500 champion Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Delta coach Norm Houze believes alumni coaches provide experienced instruction that students cannot.\n"I think what we have here is that it is focused on the kids," Houze said. "I mean, we don't have a student coaching the IU basketball team, do we? You still have to have adults to help these people in college get through, and that's how I would look at it."\nSchwoegler and Houze said they believe IUSF will face difficulties to fill coaching vacancies.\nSchwoegler said he was disappointed with the IUSF for not seeking the input of other coaches.\n"This is not about where a coach stands; it is about who decides who officially coaches an individual Little 500 team," he said. "Given the way this has been presented I think they will be hard-pressed to get a lot of help from the alumni coaches (for the new structure)."\nCalhoun said the IUSF is always open to comments from students, coaches and others who want to improve the Little 500.\n"We are definitely open to any student and coach's input about this decision and anything else than can help improve the race in any way," he said.\nBut Kirkham said the teams who are truly motivated would likely still continue to use alumni coaches -- though they would not be able to coach from the pit on race day.\n"It all comes down to self-motivation," Kirkham said, adding that teams without coaches won't be affected. "I guess it wouldn't even change it. They don't have a coach now; they won't have a coach then."\nHe added that early in Little 500 history, neither coaches nor riders were permitted on the track when another rider was on the track. They had to sit in the grandstand. \n"On race day I would stand behind a chain link fence," Kirkham said.\nBut that distance is too far for Schwoegler.\n"Jon Purvis told me that it would just be moving us two feet behind the fence, but that is probably the longest two feet in Little 500 history," he said.
(05/05/06 4:21am)
Former Team Major Taylor director Courtney Bishop filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to allow him to coach and serve as a consultant for TMT April 21, one day before the Little 500.\nIn December 2005, Bishop received a lifetime ban from all Little 500 activities for allegedly giving riders scholarships to participate in the race.\nAccording to a Jan. 16 Indiana Daily Student article, former TMT riders Dante Pryor and Julio German reported to University officials they were offered scholarships to ride in the Little 500, but Bishop only partially provided such scholarships, which caused each rider to rack up considerable debt. Providing scholarships to ride in the race is a violation of Little 500 rules.\nBishop's suit was filed in U.S. District Court against IU, the IU Foundation, the IU Student Foundation, Curtis R. Simic, CEO of the IUF, and Rob Rhamy who was the former race coordinator for the IUSF.\nBishop said he filed the suit so he could get his side of the story heard, saying he was never contacted by the IUSF before it made its ruling to ban him.\n"I was not trying to stop the race," he said "I was trying to stop the ruling on my (lifetime ban). Stopping the race was never on the table."\nThe IUSF was unable to comment about legal cases, but said Bishop is still banned from participating in the race.\n"As of this time, our ruling stands," current Little 500 race director Lucas Calhoun said. "I really can't comment any more than that."\nWithout Bishop, TMT raced to 20th place in this year's men's race.\n"With legal cases I can't really comment at this time," Rhamy said. "However, both races went off with no incidents and Team Major Taylor participated, which was good for their program as well as the Little 500."\nWhile the timing of the lawsuit was so close to the race, Bishop emphasized his goal was not to get the race delayed or cancelled.\n"I was looking to get it done earlier than that, but due to delays on our end that's what the timing ended up being," he said. "Believe you me, I'd rather cut off my arm than delaying or stopping the Little 5. However, I think (IUSF) needs to be fair to everyone."\nWhen asked about the possible rule change banning alumni coaches on race day, Bishop said he thinks it would be a mistake to get rid of the "most selfless people associated with IU."\n"I think per the mission statement, alumni are an essential part of the university experience," he said. "Alumni coaches are the heart and soul of the race and by banning them it would be detrimental to the future of the Little 500."\nBishop said he plans to contact IU President Adam Herbert or a member of his office to have an open forum where he said the truth could come out.\n"They are basing everything they know about on lies," Bishop said. "They've never spoken to anyone with TMT or myself. (The rulings have) been based on lies and I've said that from the beginning. If the IUSF is basing their argument on the truth, why will they not bring it out? All I want is to be heard, and all they want is for me not to be heard"
(04/28/06 4:37am)
Seniors Hans Arnesen and Jess Sapp were inducted into the Little 500 Hall of Fame last night at the Rider's Victory Banquet.\nIn their final year riding, Arnesen and Sapp led their respective teams to the checkered flag -- Arnesen by out-muscling the men's field and Sapp by out-sprinting the women's.\n"You can't beat winning and being inducted into the hall of fame," said Sapp, who rode for Kappa Kappa Gamma. "That was a big surprise. That's a really honorable way to leave Little 5."\nA Hall of Fame committee -- which comprises Hall of Fame former riders, coaches and others affiliated with the race -- nominated the riders, and they were approved by at least 75 percent of the teams in attendance at last night's banquet. \n"It's remarkable to get these awards and really be able to remember it forever," said Arnesen, who rode for Alpha Tau Omega. "These awards are something I will be able to put up on my wall and remember the glory days of college."\nThe banquet also recognized former Roadrunners rider Jenn Wangerin, a retroactive inductee to the Hall of Fame. \nIn his four years cycling, Arnesen set the all-time Individual Time Trial record, won two ITT and one Miss-n-Out titles and single-handedly lapped the men's field in this year's race. ATO never placed less than fifth during his career. \n"This is an amazing week with so much going on with recognition from our alumni, our teammates and our house," he said. "I'm still riding the high, and I hope it never ends."\nSapp crossed the finish line twice as a champion -- first as a sophomore and again as a senior. She won one ITT and one Miss-n-Out title, both in her senior year. In her three years riding in the race, Kappa never placed less than third. \nSapp said she is proud to be recognized by her peers.\n"Having high morals and my faith is really important to me," Sapp said. "I feel honored to be someone people look up to while having those standards as well."\nLittle 500 Race Coordinator Lucas Calhoun echoed Sapp, saying the inductees are accomplished both on and off the bike.\n"They are contributors to their teams, their fraternity and sorority and they give a lot back to the race community," Calhoun said. \nThough the induction is a few years after her final year of Little 500 competition, Wangerin said it is still meaningful.\n"It's really an honor to be recognized as one of the best riders, especially retroactively," Wangerin said. "You don't really feel like you've done anything special you're just kind of doing your thing. It's neat to be honored and recognized that you've been one of the better riders in the history of Little 5."\nLike Sapp, Wangerin crossed the finish line twice as a champion during her career and won ITTs her sophomore year. But Wangerin did it in consecutive years -- 2001 and 2002. Wangerin did not ride the Little 500 her junior and senior years, opting instead to compete in track cycling on a national level. She won 11 national collegiate titles. \nDuring the banquet, riders received scholarships, and race officials recognized the nine best men's and women's rookie riders, as well as the 16 men's and women's "all-star" riders.
(04/24/06 6:57am)
In 2000, as a high school senior, Hans Arnesen came down to Bloomington from Minnesota and witnessed the Cutters lap the field en route to their sixth Little 500 championship.\nFive years later, in his final Little 500, the Alpha Tau Omega senior lapped the field 39 laps into the annual cycling race and never looked back. One hundred sixty laps later, despite attempts from Cutters, Dodds House, Phi Gamma Delta and Acacia to catch up, Arnesen took the checkered flag still in front by a lap.\nWith the race all but decided with five laps remaining, Arnesen showed his emotion as he completed his Little 500 career.\n"Going through those last five laps I had the biggest grin on my face and I couldn't hide it with all the emotions running through me," Arnesen said. "I just wanted to get across that finish line before I started celebrating."\nGetting up a lap so early on was not the strategy heading into the race for ATO, but Arnesen took advantage when the opportunity presented itself, coach Norm Houze said.\n"The first 15 or 20 laps he was just out there getting warmed up," Houze said. "Then all of the sudden, within a couple laps, there were some crashes that put some really good teams down and some bad exchanges, then the yellow flag. We found ourselves out front, our iron man was out there, and then you have to \ndecide if you go or not. We just happened to have the guy to do it."\nArnesen got ATO off to its hot start by logging 40 laps to begin the race, shaking off a few attempts from his coach to exchange during his first set.\n"He's in control, and I'm just his coach," Houze said. "I let him do his thing. I would love to have a rider like Hans every year."\nIn total, Arnesen peddled 123 of the 200 laps for ATO while displaying emotion throughout his time on the bike. As he lapped second-place Dodds House, Arnesen held up a No. 1 sign to the cheering ATO fan section as he got off the bike after his first set.\n"I knew I had a lot in my legs and that first set had to be strong and I had to make something happen," Arnesen said. "We did not plan it like that, but it happened and I can't complain."\nDodds House failed to defend its yellow jersey as last year's champions, but won the sprint for second place. Acacia, Phi Gamma Delta and Cutters rounded out the top five.\nArnesen's championship performance on the bike completes a historic career for the senior rider. In his Little 500 career, Arnesen set the Individual Time Trial record, garnered Rookie of the Year honors, captured two ITT titles along with a Miss-n-Out crown and was the race's Most Outstanding Rider in 2004.\nWhile he has had many accomplishments on the track, before today two notable race-day incidents had defined Arnesen's career. In 2004, ATO had the championship taken away from them when Arnesen was penalized for impeding on the final lap against the Cutters. Last year, Arnesen crashed on the first lap, taking out several riders in the process.\nFor Arnesen, Saturday's performance more than makes up for his previous race day disappointments.\n"This is absolutely surreal right now," he said. "It hasn't sunk in right now, but I'm sure it will tonight. This has been four years in the making and we are finally here. This makes up for everything and anything that has happened here, no question about it."\nFalling behind a lap early caused pre-race favorites Cutters and Dodds House to change their race strategies to catch-up. Despite their best efforts, no team was able to catch ATO.\n"It didn't quite go as we expected," Cutters rider David Caughlin said. "We tried as hard as we could to catch everybody. We put it all out there. (Hans) is a phenomenal rider. He's a really strong rider. He got that lap early, so congrats to him."\nWhen Arnesen was not on the bike, his teammates had to keep Dodds and Cutters in check to make sure they didn't gain ground.\n"We just had to stay on their wheels," freshman Steve Ziemba said. "I just kept that thought in my head and made sure we held our lead."\nArnesen said he was impressed with his teammates' performances. \n"They were unbelievable today," he said. "They did exactly what they needed to do. Once we got around the field, all they needed to do was maintain the pace, ride safely and make sure they were keeping an eye on what other teams were doing."\nWith all the success he has had, Arnesen's teammates wanted to make sure their leader left IU with a Little 500 Championship.\n"What we did was, whatever Hans did we tried to match," sophomore Brigs Patterson said. "We tried to make this memorable for Hans and make it easy for him so we went out and put it all out on the track. We wanted him to leave with a trophy. He's such an amazing rider, such a great teacher and if it weren't for him I wouldn't have been able to back him up."\n-- Staff writers Brian Janosch and Michael Sanserino contributed to this story
(04/24/06 5:04am)
When Kappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp crossed the finish line to win Friday's Little 500, she did so by topping some of the best riders in the field.\nIn the final three laps, Sapp battled Kappa Delta's Lauren Ziemba, Alpha Gamma Delta's Kirstin Olson and Alpha Phi's Katie Thompson for the checkered flag. All four riders finished in the top 13 during the Individual Time Trial.\n"I knew I was with the best riders here at Indiana University, and I felt so privileged to be in that position on that lap," Ziemba said.\nThrough her tears, Thompson recalled her final Little 500.\n"(I am) bittersweet because it's all over," she said. "This week has gone by so fast. So much has happened that, it's like the first time I get to stop for a second. All the emotions are coming out. I'm just happy I was at the last lap."\nBesting a talented field made it all the more memorable for Sapp.\n"(It was) so exciting," Sapp said. "(It) makes the race even a little more exciting because you know you chased down at least three of the top riders. It makes it so much more exciting for the riders and the fans."\nTheta comes back from early crash to finish 7th\nWhen sophomore Ali McCormick broke her collar bone twelve laps into last Friday's Little 500, Kappa Alpha Theta's dreams of a fifth Little 500 title were shattered.\nGoing into the third turn, McCormick collided with an out-of-control rider who had just come out of the pits on an errant exchange. The contact caused McCormick to flip over her handlebars and onto the cinder track at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Losing a rider so early in the race put added pressure on the rest of the team.\n"You certainly have to expect your other riders to really reach down within themselves and pull out an even greater race than they were capable of pulling out before we had that problem," Kappa Alpha Theta coach Tom Schwoegler said. "The three Kappa Alpha Theta riders did that today."\nOnce the crash occurred, Schwoegler knew his team could not compete for the title. Instead, he made the team's goal to catch the lead team on that lap, Bella Veloce, after the crash. By the end of the race, the Theta team passed Bella Veloce for its seventh-place finish.\nMcCormick was proud of the hard work and perseverance her team put in once she crashed.\n"They were amazing, and I knew they would be," she said. "I feel so bad, and I feel so guilty, but they did well today, and I knew they would."\nWith three returning riders next year, Schwoegler said his team has extra motivation to build off this year's result.\n"I don't know of anything that motivates the Kappa Alpha Theta team more than a Kappa Kappa Gamma team that has one more trophy than we do," he said.\nBlack Key Bulls move from 22nd to 7th \nThe Black Key Bulls qualified in 22nd position for Saturday's men's race after a bad exchange caused the team to qualify with just two riders. Despite starting so far back, many teams said before the race that the Black Key Bulls were a team to look out for once the green flag dropped.\n"We knew we had a really good team," junior Ryan Knapp said. "We knew we had to fight out of a really bad qual spot." \nThe team lived up to expectations on race day as they made the biggest improvement of the race by moving up 15 spots to seventh place. Black Key Bulls were first shown in the top 10 when the officials updated the official standings on lap 60. The team did not fall out of the top 10 for the rest of the afternoon and even made its way to third place for a moment.\nThe first-year team said they were pleased with their riding and hope to come back strong next year.\n"I'm really proud of our guys that they didn't get down, because you have a month between quals and the race to think about how bad your starting position is," Knapp said. "But we really kept our heads up and almost forgot about how bad our starting position was. We have everybody coming back. We did a lot for a first-year team."\n--Staff writers Brian Janosch and Michael Sanserino contributed to this report.
(04/21/06 2:38pm)
For the last several weeks, teams have trained for the 56th running of the Little 500 with few on-lookers and small crowds. While the teams have some experience riding in front of others this year, nothing can compare to riding in front of the thousands of fans who will pack the stands at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\n"That's one of the best feelings ever," senior Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen said. "To have that many people there that go to school with you cheering loud is an awesome feeling. All the hard work and sacrifice that you make throughout the year is worth it right there. For those two hours, the fans are cheering a loud as they can -- there is no better feeling than your fans cheering for you."\nThe loudest cheers of the day are expected to be for the Cutters, who are favored by their fellow riders to cross the finish line first. A victory Saturday would give the Cutters their eighth title since the team's formation in 1984.\nAlthough they are favored to win and believe they have a good chance to take the checkered flag, junior Cutters rider David Caughlin said there are several teams capable of winning.\n"Obviously we train to win, but there are quite a few teams out there training to win and that can win," Caughlin said. "We have been doing all we can to prepare and we are going to keep doing what we can before the race to give ourselves a chance to win."\nThe Cutters showed their strength over the last month by taking the pole and winning the spring series and will wear the white jersey representative of the spring series champion on race day.\nDefending champion Dodds House, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Gamma Delta and Alpha Tau Omega are among the favorites to deny the Cutters their eighth championship. Though teams can be favored going into race day, once the green flag is dropped, riders realize that anything can happen.\n"There could be a crash on the first lap where the entire field goes down and five teams could separate from the pack like last year," freshman Cinzano rider Curtis Grace said. "Anything can happen and we just need to ride smart and take advantage of different situations."\nBecause the race is so unpredictable, Arnesen said having just one pre-race strategy will not be helpful for teams.\n"Personally, I don't think pre-race strategy is going to work out because the race is so spontaneous and unpredictable," he said. "You can plan ahead if you have several strategies heading into the race, but teams need to be flexible race day. You have to think on your feet -- that's what makes the race exciting."\nWith so many quality teams and riders in the field, the pace should be fast if the conditions are good.\n"I think this race is going to be aggressive," Arnesen said. "There are a number of teams out there that have solid riders that are going make the race fast. They aren't going to sit in the pack and have the slower (teams) stay around. From the start, this race is going to be played out to be one of the fastest races in recent years."\nEven with the good teams breaking away from the field, Caughlin said the outcome will be uncertain until the checkered flag drops.\n"Anything is possible in this race," he said. "Things change so fast with everything going on so something like that wouldn't surprise me, but anything can happen"
(04/19/06 5:31am)
Seven Championships.\nTwo Poles.\nAll-time record holders in both the Team Pursuit and the Little 500.\nWhile the Cutters boast one of the most impressive Little 500 resumes in the history of the race, this year's team has the potential to be one of the best Cutters squads ever.\nAlthough many riders have pegged the Cutters as the favorite heading into the April 22 race, the team's business-as-usual approach to racing shows it is taking nothing for granted at this years' Little 500 race.\nThe team, named after the squad from the 1979 movie "Breaking Away," returns all four riders from last year's seventh-place performance. Its top-10 finish was even more impressive because only three riders peddled the majority of the laps after a concussion sidelined junior David Caughlin around lap 12.\nAfter the tough race-day experience, Caughlin -- along with fellow riders Greg Buhay, Alex Bishop, Sasha Land and Jason Fowler -- began preparing for this years' race with 20 hours of training each week during the winter to pedal more miles and gain aerobic strength. During the past few weeks, the team members have cut down to about 12 to 15 hours a week, practicing at a higher intensity to get speed in their legs.\nIn the various events leading up to the race, the Cutters put on a display of their aerobic and sprinting powers, showing why many teams said they would be the favorite heading into the race.\nThe team took the pole at qualifications by posting a time of 2 minutes, 23.242 seconds -- more than a second faster than second-place finisher Phi Kappa Psi.\nThe Cutters had dominating performances at both the Individual Time Trials and Miss-n-Out. Three of the top-10 riders at ITT's were from the Cutters, and at Miss-n-Out Bishop passed defending champion Hans Arnesen on the final turn to take first place.\nWhile the Cutters won the green jersey awarded to the pole winners, they will opt to wear the white jersey they received after winning the spring series events by 11 points over second-place Dodds House. The team chose to wear the white because of the honor and prestige the jersey contains, Caughlin said.\nEven though the Cutters used the qualifications and spring series events to prepare for race day, they said they want to enjoy their time at the track.\n"We want to come and have some fun," Buhay said about the series events. "I mean, we take it seriously, but it's a good time to get some competition before the race, but the race is the day that counts."\nAfter posting impressive results in the spring series events, the Cutters like their odds to take the checkered flag this weekend.\n"We have as good a chance as anyone," Bishop said. "There is no doubt about what we can do as a team."\nThe Cutters are confident heading into the race, but they also aren't taking anything for granted in their quest for the eighth championship in the team's history.\n"I think we train hard, so I think we should be competitive," Caughlin said. "There are a lot of talented riders out there and there will be good competition. It should be a good race"
(04/19/06 5:26am)
What a difference a few years can make.\nThree years ago, senior Michael Kushnick formed a Little 500 team with another member of Sigma Alpha Mu. With little knowledge of what it took to be a competitive team in the annual intramural cycling race, the team attempted to be the first from its house since 2000.\n"One of my friends and I just formed a team and then there was a third guy who we picked up who just showed up on the track and did nothing," Kushnick said. "We had no clue about quals or anything -- we just went out and did it."\nPicking up an extra man for qualifications, the Sammy team had its first taste of the level of competition at Little 500 by posting a time of 2 minutes, 58.316 seconds. After peddling four laps around the track at Bill Armstrong Stadium, the team posted the worst time of the 39 official times that day, finishing 12 seconds behind the 33rd and final qualifier for the race.\nFast-forward three years to the final time Kushnick participated in qualifications for the Little 500. His sophomore and junior year, Kushnick led the team to qualify 32nd and 23rd respectively, but this is the year he -- joined with other seasoned riders -- could finally make some noise and become one of the top qualifiers in the race.\nHis younger brother Drew Kushnick led off for the team during qualifications. Drew Kushnick flew around the track in 34.359 seconds -- the fifth-fastest first lap of the day -- before exchanging the bike to Michael Kushnick, who peddled around the track in 38.008 seconds. Fellow rider Benjamin Gerber posted a time of 37.942 seconds -- setting the stage for Drew Kushnick to make team history.\nDrew Kushnick crossed the finish line on his second lap of the day 37.786 seconds later. Sammy had qualified fifth, the best starting position ever for Sigma Alpha Mu.\nMichael Kushnick said he was thrilled with the qualification time and noted the difference between this year's team and the one that attempted to qualify his freshman year.\n"We practiced, but we didn't know what type of practice to do and we didn't put in enough work," he said.\nWhile many teams would have become discouraged and given up, the team was motivated to qualify the next year.\n"Definitely (it lit a fire)," Michael Kushnick said. "We were like, we didn't qualify this year. We went to the race to watch people we know and cheer for them. It was more incentive that we didn't want to be watching from the stands the next year."\nAfter their preparation for qualifications, the team members knew that more practice was needed. They hired former graduate student and current Little 500 Race Coordinator Lucas Calhoun as a coach. With his help and extra motivation, Sammy got on the right track to qualify the next year.\n"We were pretty down for a couple of days, but we realized we were in over our heads at first," Michael Kushnick said. "We went out and found a coach and went out and learned what we needed to do and put the work in."\nCalhoun, who no longer coaches Sammy, said the team has made tremendous strides in the past few years and has rallied the brothers in Sigma Alpha Mu to get behind the team.\n"Their strides have been tremendous -- going from not having equipment, to buying bikes to training some in a gym to more hardcore training," he said. "My goal when I worked with them was not only to build the team, but to build the house around them. That's one fired up house."\nTo Calhoun, the team is a good example of how, with enough work, the Little 500 is open to everyone who loves cycling.\n"I'm proud of any team that has a goal of saying, 'Hey, we want to be at this certain point in a few years' and then sticking to it," he said. "It's tough when you have summer breaks and things that can derail you, but these guys stuck with it."\nThe team has grown from three riders in 2003 to seven riders this year. The Kushnick brothers, Gerber, IDS employees Lee Hurwitz and Osterman, Loren Sharken and Neil Solomon comprise the 2006 team looking to score the highest finish for Sigma Alpha Mu since the 1989 team finished in fifth place.\nWhile the team is made up of fraternity brothers, having an actual brother on the team has made the experience more fun, Drew Kushnick said.\n"It's neat. It definitely brings some more competition to the team because we try to beat each other all the time and then everyone else joins in," he said. "It's definitely some sibling rivalry and it pushes you a little extra."\nDrew Kushnick, who joined the team last year as a freshman, said having the experience from last year's race will be valuable as he helps the team race for the checkered flag this weekend.\n"Last year I was very nervous out there and all. I would be asking to get in front of people and sitting in the pack," he said. "I was very defensive and I wasn't aggressive at all. So this year I will try to be more aggressive and try to get into the pack and staying in longer."\nNow that it is starting in the middle of the second row, the team is focused on doing its best on race day. The team likes its chances on race day but mentioned the uncertainty each race brings.\n"Who knows, it's race day," Michael Kushnick said. "All you do is go out and race. It's one of our goals (to win), but I don't think there is any way to put odds on your chance. It's Little 5, everyone saw what happened last year. Your day could be over before you even finish the first lap. Who knows? It's a fun day -- race day."\nEven with the final outcome of the race to be decided on the track, one thing for certain is the drive the team has to make itself the best Sigma Alpha Mu team ever.\n"It would be a serious accomplishment," Osterman said. "We've ridden in this race plenty of times, and if we could look back at the end of the year and say that we were the best Sigma Alpha Mu team to ride this race, that would be tremendous for the work we've done."\nNo matter the outcome, for Michael Kushnick. the strides the team has made in three years is something to be proud of.\n"I pretty much formed this team with another brother my freshman year," Michael Kushnick said. "We had no clue what we were doing that year -- went into quals and didn't qualify. Sophomore year, we were a little better, and last year we got two good rookies and improved in quals and put in a lot of work. This is definitely the high with qualifying fifth. It's kind of cool to see the team build, and it's going to be amazing just to leave it in the position that it's going to be in as a competitor for the years to come"
(04/19/06 4:45am)
The sun just begins to creep over the scoreboard at Bill Armstrong Stadium as Steve McCutchen and Wally Hansford begin their work on the cinder track which hosts the Little 500. At 7:30 a.m., while most Little 500 riders are resting up for another day of training, McCutchen and Hansford start preparing the track for another day of practice.\nThey drag a brush behind their white truck to soften the track like a grounds crew prepping the infield before a Major League Baseball game. The packed-down cinders lifted up and transformed into a soft, powdery form. The two workers, with a combined 49 years of Little 500 experience, waste no time in tending to all parts of the track.\nOnce this step is complete, McCutchen immediately gets out of the truck and hops onto the "cinder zamboni". This large, yellow machine is used to pack the cinders down -- making the track fast and safe. The process is long -- taking more than 45 minutes to complete -- and the entire time, McCutchen pays close attention to detail, making sure the track is smooth and consistent from start to \nfinish.\nThe final stage in track-prep is blowing the small pebbles and debris off the track. The entire process takes several hours -- and that's if there are no problems, such as a frozen track or damp spots.\nWhile the process takes an incredible amount of work, McCutchen and Hansford say they are privileged to be a part of the annual intramural \ncycling race.\n"I just think that it is part of what has become my job, but it's more than that -- it's something I really enjoy," McCutchen said. "You get to meet so many different kinds of people, its sort of a privilege that we get to do it."\nThe work they put in goes largely unnoticed by the racers, but the two friends do their work because of their love of the race, not for recognition.\n"The best part of my job is the enjoyment of watching the kids come up here, assume the track is already like this and get on it and don't have a care in the world," Hansford said. "Knowing we have given them the safest possible track and hopefully the fastest possible track is satisfying."\nTheir work, and the work of countless others who help put on Little 500, does not go unnoticed by the IU Student Foundation, said Little 500 Race Coordinator Lucas Calhoun.\n"It takes so many different people to do this event," Calhoun said. "The special things he does to the track, he (Steve) has down to a science. He is so into the race and that's cool."\nThe energy McCutchen brings to the event is obvious as he talks about the history and all the races he has been to over the years. This energy can be seen every day in the effort he puts into the track's upkeep.\n"He's just a sweet guy," Calhoun said. "He's been around the race so long and watches practice so he sees when the riders make mistakes but he feels like he has no place to correct them. He knows what's going on all the time."\nAs they enter their 24th and 25th race respectively, McCutchen and Hansford call themselves the foremost cinder cycling track experts in the world because of the time they have invested in taking care of the track.\n"Most people come up here and think it's an asphalt track -- they don't even know what cinders are," Hansford said. "This is the only cinder bike track in the world and not many people have raced on it, not even Lance Armstrong"
(04/19/06 4:25am)
For 20 seconds, senior Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen knew what it felt like to be a Little 500 champion.\n"The highest point of racing in the Little 5 has to be the 2004 race where we crossed the finish line first," Arnesen said. "For those 20 seconds that we had actually won the race was the highest point I've ever had in Little 5."\nThen-sophomore Arnesen had a final lap showdown with Cutters rider Chris Vargo to decide the annual intramural cycling race. While Arnesen won the sprint across the finish line, the checkered flag ultimately went to the Cutters after officials penalized Arnesen for a blocking violation.\n"It's one of those that can shift immediately to one of the hardest things to take," he said. "Being at the highest point of thinking we had won the race and then all of a sudden to get it called back was hard. Getting second at that point was no reward to us. We knew the feeling of being at the top for those 20 seconds."\nOther than winning the main race, Arnesen has accomplished as much as any rider in the history of the Little 500. His freshman year he was named Rookie of the Year, his sophomore year he was awarded Most Valuable Rider and his junior year he set the all-time record of 2 minutes, 15.778 seconds in the Individual Time Trials. Any time he steps on the track, fellow riders name him as the favorite to win any spring series event. With two ITT and one Miss-n-Out titles, Arnesen continues to live up to expectations on the bike.\nArnesen wants to add the one trophy that has eluded him the last three years but said the race is more about the experience than just winning.\n"At this point, Little 5 means helping my team be successful and if we do well and can get a win on top of it, that's amazing," he said. "It would be incredible to go out on top, but if not, that's OK. I just want to see my teammates have a smile on their face and enjoy the race. That's what I'm thankful for -- that I have enjoyed the last four years."\nHis leadership and experience has been critical to the growth of the ATO team this season.\n"Hans brings leadership and absolute power," ATO coach Norm Houze said. "He's the fastest guy ever to ride on this track. He knows the race and all the little ins and outs which helps with a young team like ours."\nThe experience and success Arnesen has earned during his four years has not come without sacrifice. He noted the amount of time and effort all Little 500 riders put into the race and said all the riders should be commended for their efforts on the bike.\n"It's a considerable amount of time when you are trying to balance out school, your social life, family life and everything else," Arnesen said. "It's tough trying to be on a schedule, getting appropriate rest and do everything that needs to be done to be a successful rider."\nAs he enters his final 200 laps as a Little 500 rider, Arnesen wants to make his final race a memorable one.\n"I'm going to go out there and make every lap that I'm on the bike count," he said. "I'm not going to sit in the pack and eat laps. I'm going out there to ride aggressive and make my last time on the bike count. This is my last race and I want to leave it all out on the track"
(03/31/06 5:00am)
After taking the top place at the Individual Time Trials, Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen and Kappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp head into Saturday's Miss-N-Out among the favorites to win the second Little 500 series event of the season.\nArnesen and Bella Veloce rider Abby Cooper both look to defend their title against a deep and strong field of riders.\nIn Miss-N-Out, eight or nine riders take the track and race. At the end of each lap, the rider in last position is dropped. The riders keep racing until one rider is left, so strategy and speed are important in this event. \nMiss-N-Out is one of the favorite events for the riders, Cutters rider Greg Buhay said.\n"It's fun, you get to do some strategy on the track and have a good time with your buddies," he said.\nBuhay and his fellow Cutters are among the favorites to take the title this weekend. Cutters Alex Bishop (second), David Caughlin (eigth) and Sasha Land (ninth) all placed in the top 10 during ITT's and will look to have another strong showing at Miss-N-Out.\nPhi Gamma Delta rider Joe Keck, Dodds House riders Kevin Moore and Daniel Houchens, Phi Kappa Psi rider Chas Pall and Briscoe rider Michael Carey join Arnesen and the Cutters as favorites.\nOn the women's side, Alpha Phi riders Katie Thompson and Trevy Ramos and Kappa Delta rider Lindsey Mank join Cooper and Sapp as the favorites.\nThe Little 500 spring series is comprised of the ITT's, Miss-n-Out and Team Pursuit. These events give teams the chance to compete before the race and allow the riders a break from practicing everyday. Points are awarded for each event and the team with the most points dons the white jersey on race day.\n"Series events are so much fun because we train six months for a one-day race and then its over," Sapp said. "They are such good baby steps leading up to the race. They help to get you mentally prepared and for the competition."\nMany teams use them as a gauge to see who the favorites are heading into the Little 500.\n"It's always a little competitive. I really like them -- we only get to ride Little 5 bikes one season in the spring, so it's a great way to compete on them as much as we can," Teter rider Sarah Rieke said. "I love how the series events are laid out. Usually the teams who do best are probably the best put together come race time."\nAs a last preparation for the Little 500, teams want to use these events to improve and sharpen their skills heading into the main race.\n"The goal is to get out there and do the best we can," Moore said. "There are always a lot of strong teams and strong riders and all you can really worry about is how you and your team do because you cannot worry about what everyone else is doing." \n--Senior writer Michael Sanserino contributed to this story.
(03/30/06 5:39am)
After setting the record at Individual Time Trials last year, Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen failed to complete a quarter of a lap before his chain broke in the first spring series event of the season.\nClearly disgusted with his bike, Arnesen slammed his Schwinn into the outer fence of Bill Armstrong Stadium as his fellow riders completed their trial.\nWhen Arnesen took the track two hours later, neither his chain nor the other riders would deny the senior his second ITT title in a row. Arnesen's time of 2 minutes, 17.7 seconds edged out Cutter rider Alex Bishop's time of 2:20.7 for first place.\nDespite his earlier setback, Arnesen was pleased with the victory.\n"Its never fun having to get back in your rhythm and find your focus again, but it's gotta be done," Arnesen said. "It feels good. I love this race and I love to be able to do it again."\nArnesen's broken chain was one of the four disappointments in his heat as fellow riders Joe Keck (Phi Gamma Delta), Sasha Land (Cutters) and Kevin Moore (Dodds House) were unable to top the time Bishop set early in the day.\nEven though the other three riders were unable to break Bishop's time, they all placed in the top 15, making it the fastest heat of the night. Moore said that riding in such a fast heat helped him during the race.\n"The track felt good, it was a little cool, but it was nice," the Dodds House rider said. "This being my senior year, I am good friends with Hans, Sasha, and Joe on and off the track. We race together, we ride for IU together and it's definitely an honor to ride with those guys tonight."\nThe fastest men's heat directly followed the fastest women's heat, capping off the night's "power hour." While good riders raced throughout the evening, many of the top riders on both the men's and women's sides raced from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.\nThe fastest women's heat featured Bella Veloce rider and defending champion Abby Cooper, who also set the all-time record last season. While Cooper looked to defend her title, Kappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp stole the show by edging out second place finisher and Alpha Phi rider Katie Thompson with a time of 2:20.7. Cooper finished third to Sapp and Thompson in the heat and fifth place overall.\nSapp was happy with the victory, but heading into the race she was focused on personal improvement, not on taking first place.\n"Personally, it just means I have improved from last year," Sapp said. "I look at lot at how I improve myself and not how I do compared to the field because it so different each year. I figure if I train for six months, I can shave off a couple seconds on ITT's so that's what I was looking for the most."\nFor series events, Sapp said she was focused on getting ready for the Little 500 and improvement. The events are a good indication of the competition, but they are by no means the only way to judge a rider Sapp said.\n"Maybe a little bit, but I feel like anyone in the top 10 is going to be spotted," Sapp said. "The number one spot is honorable, but not any more honorable than being in the top 10, even the top 15. Those are all amazing riders."\n--Senior writer Michael Sanserino contributed to this report.
(03/24/06 5:18am)
After weather conditions forced Little 500 teams to practice away from Bill Armstrong Stadium this week, riders are anxious to get back on the right track, even if that track is a bit sludgy. Qualifications for the men's and women's fields are all day Saturday, where teams compete to determine the racing order for the April event.\nTeams resumed practice Thursday after a Tuesday snowfall closed the track for two days. Though the track was cleared of most snow, Kappa Alpha Theta coach Tom Schwoegler said the track was in the worst condition he had ever seen before qualifications.\nBecause of track conditions, teams were not allowed to ride on the inside or outside edges of the track in hopes the surface would improve by Saturday's qualifications. But the smaller riding area created more congestion for riders during Thursday practices. \nKappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp said she hopes the track improves by Saturday, but if conditions don't improve, she might not be as upset as other teams.\n"Last year we set the record," Sapp said. "So we're thinking if the track's terrible, hopefully nobody will break the record."\nTwo-time defending pole-sitter Kappa Kappa Gamma set the women's track record with a time of 2:36:14 in 2005. But Sapp said she won't be too upset if they don't three-peat.\n"We don't train six months for quals, we train six months for the race, so as long as we're in those first couple rows, we'll be pleased," she said. "You can always move up once the flag goes."\nKappa Kappa Gamma attempts qualification at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, something Sapp views as both an advantage because of the lack of wind and a disadvantage because of the lack of sunshine.\nSchwoegler said he believes teams qualifying in the morning have a distinct disadvantage because of the lower temperatures and the slick track.\nComplicating matters, the National Weather Service forecasts a 50 percent chance of precipitation Friday night.\nWhile he acknowledges it's an issue, Theta Chi rider Jacob Fowler said he doesn't think track moisture will alter the qualification results.\n"It will make the corners more difficult, but everyone has to ride on the same track," he said.\nThe less than perfect track conditions only intensify the emotions riders feel during qualification weekend, especially since, for some teams, Little 500 hopes will be cut with a poor qualification time.\n"Quals is definitely the most nerve-wracking day," Phi Gamma Delta rider Joe Keck said. "Having done it a couple of times, I feel a little better about it, but I need to be there to calm down the rest of the guys on my team. By far it's the most nerve-wracking day because you have to get into the event."\nKeck is the only returning rider from 2005's second-place team.\n"We have a pretty rookie team this year; it doesn't help having this weather heading into qualification," he said.\nFowler said he is confident the team full of rookies will be successful in its first qualifications.\n"We are feeling good compared to other rookie teams, but we still have a lot of work to do before Saturday," Fowler said. "But we are ready for it"
(03/20/06 5:40am)
After three weeks of what-ifs, the IU women's softball team had a breakthrough weekend by capturing the Florida State Invitational March 12. The Hoosiers defeated two ranked opponents in one weekend after posting a 0-2-1 record against ranked teams prior to the tournament.\nOvercoming mental barriers helped push the Hoosiers to finally defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since 1998.\n"I think what got us done earlier in the season was more of the mental approach," IU head coach Stacey Phillips said. "That was something we were lacking in. Last weekend we were much better with our mental approach."\nThe cream and crimson posted a 6-0 record en route to the championship.\n"It was a great feeling," Phillips said. "The never-die attitude was huge and the team showed a lot of heart, which can take us even further than our talent. We are a talented ball club, but the heart we've showed on the field is only going to help us."\nThe Hoosiers upset No. 15 University of Nebraska 2-1 in the fourth game of the weekend. The cream and crimson used the momentum from the victory against the Cornhuskers to rally past the University of Connecticut and into the championship game. In the finals, the Hoosiers shut-out No. 25 University of North Carolina 1-0 to capture their first tournament title since 2004.\n"I think we had a good taste of what it takes to be successful," Phillips said. "For six games and winning a tournament -- they got a big mouthful of success."\nSenior pitcher Mariangee Bogado led the Hoosiers with seven strikeouts in the championship game to earn her first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award.\n"It feels great," Bogado said. "I need to thank the coaches for the extra work they've put in and my teammates for their help."\nThe way Bogado played throughout the weekend and the season merited the award, Phillips said.\n"It's a great accomplishment for her and our program," Phillips said. "She's got the competitive edge you wish everyone on your team had."\nThe team had a bit of a letdown after the tournament, finishing the Florida road trip with two losses to Liberty University and Stetson University.\n"I think it was a big learning experience," Phillips said. "When you go out and win a big tournament and then turn around and lose to teams you are straight up better than, I think you get a sense of having to play your game every time."\nThe Hoosiers cannot play down to the level of their opponents, junior infielder Rachel Terry said.\n"We have to learn that when we play teams with a lower caliber we can't play at their level, and we need to play IU softball," Terry said.\nDespite the two disappointing losses, the first championship since 2004 is a big stepping stone for the Hoosiers this season, Phillips said.\n"To have that great of a weekend against that type of competition is really a great feat"
(03/10/06 5:04am)
Close.\nThat word has defined the first three weeks of the IU women's softball season.\nClose to bringing in runners to score.\nClose to securing the holes in the defense.\nClose to getting the win to put them over the top.\nDespite not being able to capitalize on chances against ranked opponents so far this season, coach Stacey Phillips said she believes her young team is ready for a defining win as the cream and crimson head off for a seven-day Florida road trip.\n"I think we are on the verge of a breakout," Phillips said. "We are playing top competition and we are playing them close. We think about how level of a playing field we are with them and how we are right there. We just need that one breakout and we hope we are able to hit that notch this weekend."\nIU has been close to winning in all three of its games against ranked opponents University of Oklahoma and University of Louisville. While the Hoosiers showed flashes of brilliance, they were unable to score runs with runners in scoring position.\n"We played solid defense, we could sharpen it up a bit," Phillips said. "We just need to hit the ball. We had runners in scoring position four of the seven innings and we need to capitalize on it. We aren't having the sense of urgency to get that runner across."\nWith a roster containing nine freshmen and sophomores, Phillips said she believes once the team learns how to win big games, it will be easier to have success against top teams.\n"We need to know how it feels to win," Phillips said. "We are capable of knowing what it looks, feels and tastes like to win this year, but we have to get there to feel it and so we can want it more."\nHeading into a stretch where the Hoosiers could play 11 games in 10 days, the cream and crimson will rely heavily on the pitching of seniors Megan Roark and Mariangee Bogado. Having friendly competition between two high-caliber pitchers makes the whole team better, Bogado said.\n"I think it's like a battle between Megan and me," Bogado said. "It helps push us to do better every time. If she strikes out 10 batters, I want to strike out 12 batters the next game. It's competition."\nThat competition has spread throughout the team and has the team members supporting each other more so than in previous years.\n"I think this team is much more of an actual team than the last two years," sophomore infielder Jennilee Huddleston said. "We are all ready to pick each other up when we need to."\nPhillips said she believes this weekend the team can break through and play for a championship.\n"We hope that we can play a team like Florida State in their stadium and win," Phillips said. "No matter who we are playing, we need to play consistently. We are really battling ourselves a little more than who we are actually playing. We need to not focus on who we are playing and just focus on winning the game"
(02/21/06 5:49am)
Little 500 season officially began yesterday as the rookies took the track at Bill Armstrong Stadium for Rookie Week.\nAll rookie riders are required to practice this week to orient themselves to the finer points of the annual race.\n"It's a good week for the rookies to get their feet wet before the veterans come out to practice," said senior Riders' Council member Ryan Moore. "They will learn some of the things unique to Little Five, and it's just a good way for them to get comfortable."\nThe Riders' Council members realize mistakes will be made, so they want to allow the rookies the chance to gain their bearings with the track.\n"The point of rookie week is to allow rookies some time to get familiar with the track, what it feels like to get on it, getting on and off the bike, and how it feels to ride in a pack," senior Riders' Council member Alana Robertson said. "Only the rookies are out here, so the veterans aren't intimidating them."\nThe Riders Council members teach the riders a new fundamental each day. They want to give the riders a set of skills to prepare them for their first race. Each day's lesson will build off the previous lesson, Moore said. The Riders' Council members serve as mentors and instructors during the week.\n"We really just want to be here to teach them the skills, but also just answer any questions they have," Moore said. "I think you learn by doing, so we are here for whatever the rookies need from us."\nEven with a track full of rookies, taking the track for the first time can be intimidating for some riders.\n"I was scared at first, but once I got here it was great because they were telling us things to get us in the mode for the race," junior Renata Hacker said. "It wasn't scary anymore because everyone was doing the same thing as I was."\nWhile some riders were nervous, others were excited to get their first taste of Little 500.\n"I'm definitely excited about coming out," sophomore Kevin Devine said. "I really want to see where I compare with the other guys out here."\nFor the coaches, this week can be used to get their younger riders caught up to the veterans and add to team chemistry. It also can be used as a motivational tool for the teams.\n"It's a chance for them to come here and see what the other girls are like," Alpha Kappa Theta coach Tom Schowegler said. "Then they are like, 'wow, there are other people who are learning just like we are,' which is kind of nice. The hardest thing though, is that it's so cold out here for practice."\nDespite the fact that they are only getting one week of extra practice, the experience is crucial in making the next two months run as smoothly as possible.\n"What's really important is that they learn the track etiquette and to know you have to communicate and let other riders know where you are," Robertson said. "We want them to learn communication so there aren't big crashes in practice or race day"